New Crowe film Noah banned in Indonesia

AUSTRALIAN actor Russell Crowe's portrayal of religious figure Noah won't be seen in Indonesian cinemas, with the film rejected by the censors.

The big-budget Hollywood epic, which opens in Australia on Thursday, has been blocked by censors in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates because it could offend Muslim viewers by depicting a prophet.

Indonesia followed on Monday with a unanimous decision by the Indonesian Censorship Board.

Board member Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi told news website detik that anyone who shows the film would be punished.

He said the board was responding to the values of a society "which highly respects religion and the value of unity".

"We're not following or tailing other countries," he said.

Catherine Keng, corporate secretary of Indonesia's largest cinema chain Cinema 21, said it would comply.